Embedded World: Authentication companion ICs for MCUs

At Embedded World today, Microchip announced six secure authentication devices that meet Common Criteria Joint Interpretation Library (JIL) secure key storage, and support algorithms that comply with the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS).

They are intended to be companion devices, compatible with any microprocessor or microcontroller.

“This portfolio lowers the barrier to entry and enables developers of products for new segments and applications to implement trusted authentication to prevent counterfeiting, improve quality control and safeguard the user experience,” according to the company.

There are five CryptoAuthentication-branded ICs, with hardware-based secret key storage.

ECC204: ECC-P256 signature and hash-based message authentication code (HMAC)
ECC206: Two-pin parasitic power, ECC-P256 signature and HMAC
SHA104: Client SHA256 MAC
SHA105: Host SHA256 CheckMAC
SHA106: Two-pin parasitic power and client SHA256 MAC

And one AEC-Q100 Grade 1-qualified CryptoAutomotive-branded IC for secure authentication:

TA010: with ECC signature and HMAC

“The devices are supported by the Trust Platform Design Suite, a dedicated software tool used to onboard these ICs with Microchip’s secure key provisioning service,” said Microchip. “The scalable service enables cryptographic assets to be provisioned for projects of virtually any size, ranging from tens of devices to large-scale deployments.”

See Microchip at Embedded World 2023, hall 3A stand 443